Dealer 45K maintenance - am I missing something?

[lmheim]

I took my car (that I have now owned for 3 days) to the dealership yesterday to their Express Service for an oil change. Part of the service includes a 30-point inspection that covers pretty much all the things you would expect. They came back and told me they think it missed the 45k service (it has 50K on it). Hmmmm - so I went to the owners manual to see what is involved in the 45k.

Lets see -
- oil/filter change - done
- air filter change - doing myself today
- wiper blade change - doing myself today
- inspections - the important stuff inspected by the dealer for free with no issues noted (other than air filter, wiper blades and normal minor tire wear)

So from what I can tell, the 45k inspection was essentially done for free by the dealer, the oil has been changed and the air filter and wipers will be changed today. This seems too easy and cheap - am I missing something or is this really little more than a ploy for additional revenue by Nissan and the dealers?

This may seem like a stupid question, but I owned an Audi for years that needed major maintenance every 20 miles or 30 days whichever came first (and it was usually the time period expiring before the mileage since that POS never really made it 20 miles in 30 days. Yes I am exaggerating but that was the WORST car I have owned in 35 years of car ownership).

[Q45Owner]

I took my car (that I have now owned for 3 days) to the dealership yesterday to their Express Service for an oil change. Part of the service includes a 30-point inspection that covers pretty much all the things you would expect. They came back and told me they think it missed the 45k service (it has 50K on it). Hmmmm - so I went to the owners manual to see what is involved in the 45k.

Lets see -
- oil/filter change - done
- air filter change - doing myself today
- wiper blade change - doing myself today
- inspections - the important stuff inspected by the dealer for free with no issues noted (other than air filter, wiper blades and normal minor tire wear)

So from what I can tell, the 45k inspection was essentially done for free by the dealer, the oil has been changed and the air filter and wipers will be changed today. This seems too easy and cheap - am I missing something or is this really little more than a ploy for additional revenue by Nissan and the dealers?

This may seem like a stupid question, but I owned an Audi for years that needed major maintenance every 20 miles or 30 days whichever came first (and it was usually the time period expiring before the mileage since that POS never really made it 20 miles in 30 days. Yes I am exaggerating but that was the WORST car I have owned in 35 years of car ownership).

If it were my car, I would take care of everything. Even though you have relatively low mileage on your '02, it's still 12 years old (possibly 13 if it was a 2001 build) and I would want everything fresh in there. I would swap out the transmission fluid, air filter, cabin filter, spark plugs, change the power steering fluid, flush out the radiator, and seafoam it, in addition to switching to synthetic oil and a new oil filter. But that's just me

Audis are junk. There, I said it. Probably the most overrated cars on the road. I would never ever own one. It's because of stories like this that they'll never be on my radar. If I were to ever go German (unlikely) I would only do BMW. You were smart to trade up to an Infiniti. I have a 94 and the car just wreaks of quality in and out. I would love to have an '02-'06 one day as well. Good luck with your Q.

[BCC93QT]

Plugs at 45k? Really? I think that is a touch to soon. Plugs last much longer than that especially now adays. I am on my 3rd set of plugs at 325k I would stick to fluids and filters. The first transmission flush should be around 45k and then around 120k in my opinion. Yeah I told myself I would never buy any vehicles that were German but I picked up a 2002 BMW 1200 GS-R last year and its a fun ride. Beat the living crap out of it along with everything else I own.

[Infinitiguy19]

You are mistaken if you think a ex-lube kid is going to fully check over your Q. It really depends on the dealer. But flat rate techs which is pretty much anyone with experience won't touch your Q. Not unless you pay then an hour diag.

[Q451990]

If your Q has had frequent documented oil changes, I would concentrate on flushing and changing the other fluids, and start looking in to any suspension issues. 12 year old rubber is 12 year old rubber even with low mileage.

There's not much else to do in terms of dealer maintenance... it sounds like the 45K service is a lot of "inspect" and not much work, so I'd skip it.

Heath

[seldomseen]

You really may as well get your 60k service done now if you have the pennies to do so. Particually do to the age of the Q45 alone and due to the fact that the previous owner, very likely did not do anything with the exception of oil changes.